Using cross-references in PocketBible

Cross-references are often included with Bibles to lead you to other places in the Bible that relate to the verse you are reading. Cross-references can help you see how Scripture interprets Scripture. As Martin Luther said, “Scripture is its own expositor.”

You often see cross-references, in print, in the center column of your Bibles. In PocketBible, you will find cross-references included with some of our Bible translations (i.e. NIV, ESV, HCSB, NABRE), some commentaries reference related verses in their comments, and of course, in the ultimate cross-reference resource: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is a classic Bible study resource known for its exhaustive cross-references covering the entire Bible—over 500,000 entries in all—and is free for use in PocketBible.

Viewing cross-references in PocketBible

Verse references are hyperlinked in PocketBible meaning you can click or tap on them to view the related verse. If you click or tap to go to the verse and view it in context, all versions of PocketBible include Back buttons (usually an arrow) which will return you to your starting verse. There are some variations among the versions of PocketBible to keep in mind:

PocketBible for Windows PC users: you can hover your mouse arrow over the cross-reference to see the verse quoted without even going to the verse.

PocketBible gives you a mechanism via its Notes feature to record your own thoughts on related verses. Anytime you put a verse reference in a note, PocketBible will link it automatically so you can view the verse with a tap (or hover).

Turning cross-references on/off in PocketBible

Cross-references in PocketBible Bibles can be turned on/off for ease of reading.

PocketBible for Android: tap on the Menu button and choose Display Settings and Footnote Style. Choose Hide to completely eliminate footnote indicators; Mark will show the asterisk to mark a cross-reference or footnote; Expand will show you the entire footnote inset in the text.

PocketBible for iOS: tap on the Menu button and choose Settings and Footnotes. Choose Hide to completely eliminate footnote indicators; Collapse so you just see an indicator of a footnote available to tap on or Expand to see the footnote in its entirety.

PocketBible for Windows PC: choose Edit | Options from the menu and there is a drop down box for Translator’s Footnotes to turn them on/off/expand.

PocketBible for Windows Phone: choose Settings | Appearance from the menu and choose Footnote Style to to turn them on/off/expand.